New investment announced by Mayor Of London to fund safe accommodation for domestic abuse survivors.
The funding comes amid warnings from charities that the cost-of-living crisis is creating further barriers for survivors fleeing abuse.
£15 million of investment has been announced by Mayor Of London to fund safe accommodation for domestic abuse survivors.
The fresh investment is part of the Mayor’s Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation programme1, which is helping specialist organisations across London provide thousands of vulnerable women, children and men with life changing support. This includes safe refuge, specialist counselling and outreach services.
It comes amid warnings from charities that the cost-of-living crisis is making it difficult for women to flee from abuse 2, because they are increasingly forced to choose between staying in an abusive situation or face financial hardship.
Latest figures for the 12 months to December 2023, show that domestic abuse reporting continue to rise with more than 96,000 offences recorded by the Met Police, an eight per cent rise compared with the year ending February 2020. This rise can be put down partly due to better recording practices from the police and an increase in victims coming forward and reporting crimes to the police. However, despite the increase in reporting, victims are facing further barriers exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.
"This to me is a hidden crisis"
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Sadiq Khan said "I'm really pleased that we've announced a further £15 million to support domestic abuse and safe accomodation funding. What that's for is to support those victims and survivors who are fleeing abuse from a husband or partner.
"They often need counselling, therapy, advocacy and legal support."
The Mayor added that he thinks domestic abuse is a significant problem.
"The fact that you've got a situation where last year alone there was almost 100,000 reports of domestic abuse to the police in London. You've got a situation where every three days a woman is killed at the hands of a man across the country. This to me is a hidden crisis."